John Lewis

Fielding Lewis' great grandfather

Excerpted from Lewis of Warner Hall by Merrow Egerton Sorley

He was a Major in the York County militia. He is referred to in nearly all the land transactions by this title, although at one point, he is referred to as a Colonel. However, within a year or so, he is again a Major. Perhaps he held the rank of Colonel only temporarily. He was also a surveyor.

Bacon's Rebellion broke out in 1676 and the final events of its course and Bacon's life occurred in the vicinity of New Kent and Gloucester Counties. The estate of Chemokins was originally owned by Col. John West before its purchase by Maj. William Lewis, being half of a tract owned by Col. West. While Chemokins had, by this date, passed into the hands of Maj. John Lewis, Col. West was probably still residing on his adjacent lands. After the conclusion of the rebellion, commissioners were appointed to report to the colonial government the "persons who suffered by Bacon's rebellion". Their original report is to be found in the Winder Papers in the Virginia State Library. The report was dated 15 October, 1677.

"Col. John West a person greatly impaired in his stock & goods by the Rebels, and a most constant Loyall Gentleman during the late Rebellion and was for some time after Bacon's death Imprisoned by the Rebell Partie."

"Major John Lewis [was] a sufferer in the same kind as the former." At Middlesex Court, in February, 1677, one Matthew Bentley was summoned to answer the charge that during the late rebellion, when in command of 40 or 50 men-in-arms at Major Lewis' plantation in New Kent County, he killed three hogs and four sheep, used a great deal of corn, and took meal for the whole rebel army at Major Pate's. The Pate residence was just south of Chemokins.